Theater News

An Enemy of the People Opens at the Guthrie Theater

Lyndsey Turner directs Brad Birch’s new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 play.

Brad Birch adapted Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People for the Guthrie production, now playing through June 3.
Brad Birch adapted Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People for the Guthrie production, now playing through June 3.
(© J.D. Hudson)

A new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People opens tonight at the Guthrie Theater.

Brad Birch's new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play follows Tom Stockmann, a geologist who discovers dangerous water pollution in the Springs, a highly anticipated resort spa set to open in a Norwegian town. In Tom's mind, the path to a solution is clear: inform the public and close the resort to prevent a crisis. But gradually, he comes under fire — from his brother (the town's mayor), the press, his neighbors and his own family — for wanting to publicize a problem that threatens to destroy the town's economy and reputation. With ripped-from-the-headlines relevance, this high-intensity drama is a powerful investigation of ambition, integrity and the price we pay for truth.

Lyndsey Turner directs the cast of Sarah Agnew, (Kate), Christian Bardin (Petra), Billy Carter (Tom Stockmann), Ricardo Chavira (Peter Stockmann), J.C. Cutler (Aslaksen), Zachary Fine (Morten Kiil), Zarif Kabier (Billing), and Mo Perry (Hovstad).

The creative team includes Merle Hensel (scenic design), Brenda Abbandandolo (costume design), Jane Cox (lighting design), Broken Chord (original music and sound design). Carla Steen is the dramaturg, Jill Walmsley Zager the vocal coach, and Taous Claire Khazem the assistant director. The stage management team consist of Tree O'Halloran (stage manager) and Jason Clusman (assistant stage manager).

Performances continue through June 3.

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